The legacy defining moments for sports legends

The great Hank Aaron sits second on Major League Baseball's all-time home run list with 755. However, the moment he surpassed Babe Ruth for baseball's career home-run lead on April 8, 1974, is still one of the great memories in sports history. In front of 53,775 at Atlanta's Fulton County Stadium, Aaron clubbed home run 715 off Los Angeles Dodgers' hurler Al Downing into the Braves bullpen. The image of Aaron rounding the bases, with two fans joining in on the fun, should be welded into the mind of every true baseball fan.

When it comes to the great Jabbar, it wasn't necessarily one game or moment that defined his career. Obviously not when you're a six-time NBA champion and MVP, and 19-time All-Star nods. However, it was Kareem's use of his patented "skyhook" shot that remained one of the most memorable parts of his game -- and career. For most of Jabbar's opponents, the "skyhook" was almost impossible to defend, and a big reason he averaged 24.6 points during his brilliant 20-year NBA career.

Ali was involved in three of the biggest professional boxing matches in the history of the sport. There was his 1971 loss to Joe Frazier in "The Fight of the Century" and victory at the "Thrilla in Manila" in '75. In between, was the famous 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle,"  against George Foreman. The 32-year-old Ali was the underdog against the younger, 40-0 Foreman. However, in front of an estimated 1 billion people watching around the world, Ali knocked out the 25-year-old Foreman near the end of the eighth round of this heavyweight title bout.

Like Kareem and most others on this list, picking just one great moment in the career of "Larry Legend" would seem near impossible. Though it's hard to forget his remarkable steal and pass against Detroit in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final . With Boston down one and 5 seconds left in regulation, Bird stole the inbounds pass, and while falling out of bounds, passed to teammate Dennis Johnson, who made the go-ahead -- and game-winning -- layup with 2 seconds remaining. The Celtics eventually won the series to reach the NBA Finals for the final time during Bird's playing career.

The dominant Jamaican speedster is the only sprinter to win both the 100 and 200 meters at three consecutive Olympic Games -- 2008, '12, and '16. It was at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing that Bolt truly left his mark. Not only did he win both the 100 and 200, but did so while setting a world record in each event -- 9.69 seconds (100) and 19.30 seconds (200). Making him the first person to accomplish such an amazing dual Olympic feat in the fully automatic time era. 

We highlighted the moment Hank Aaron moved past Babe Ruth for the top spot on baseball's all-time home run list. So, it makes sense to talk about that time Bonds' surpassed Aaron for the same record. Bonds, whose 762 homers are still the most of any major league, cracked the historical No. 756 on Aug. 7, 2007, into the right-field bleachers during the fifth inning, at San Francisco, off Washington's Mike Bacsik. 

There are many analysts and NFL experts who believe the Cleveland Browns' legend is the greatest pro football player of all time. It's a worthy argument to have, and the numbers are there to back it up. When his nine-season (1957-'65) pro career had ended, Brown finished with an NFL-record 12,312 rushing yards -- a mark that stood for nearly 20 years. However, Brown's most impressive feat might be the fact that he remains the only running back in NFL history to average at least 100 yards -- 104.3 in his case -- for a career.

Five NBA championship rings, 18 All-Star nods, and an MVP award, but for our money, the most impressive moment in Bryant's legendary pro basketball career came on Jan. 22, 2006. That's the night Bryant dropped 81 points during the Los Angeles' Lakers' 122-104 home win over the Toronto Raptors. Bryant went 28-of-46 from the field, made 7-of-13 3-pointers, and sank all but two of his 20 free-throw attempts. Bryant's sensational offensive performance remains the second-highest scoring game in NBA history.

OK, we know Kobe Bryant scored the second-most points in a single NBA game. So obviously, Chamberlain's 100-point effort for the Philadelphia Warriors against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962, must be highlighted. Chamberlain scored all but 69 of his team's points, though the Warriors gave up 147. In 48 minutes of play, Chamberlain went 36-of-63 from the floor and 28-of-32 from the free-throw line. He also pulled down 25 rebounds during one of the greatest individual performances in sports history.

The five-time Olympic gold-medalist gymnast was just 14 years old when she made Olympic history. On July 18, 1976, at the Montreal Summer Games, Comaneci earned the first perfect score of 10 in an Olympic competition, nailing her routine on the uneven bars during the compulsory portion of the event. In a complete show of dominance, Comaneci recorded six more "Perfect 10s" in Montreal.

"Joltin' Joe" was a 13-time All-Star, three-time MVP, and was part of nine World Series-winning teams with the New York Yankees. Yet, what first comes to mind when DiMaggio's name is brought up, other than Marilyn Monroe, is his 56-game hitting streak during the 1941 season. During that run from May 15-July 16, DiMaggio batted .408 with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs. Perhaps most impressive, though, was that he struck out just five times over 223 at-bats during the streak. 

"The Iron Horse" played his 2,130th consecutive major-league baseball game on April 30, 1939. It would be the last game he'd ever play. That record streak ended two days later when an ailing Gehrig benched himself. However, arguably the defining moment to Gehrig's Hall-of-Fame legacy came on July 4, 1939, when he, now retired from baseball after being diagnosed with the incurable neuromuscular illness amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), delivered one of the most celebrated and memorable speeches in sports history. Letting a sold-out Yankee Stadium and baseball fans everywhere know that "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth," to have the career he did.

Is it even possible to decide which moment throughout Gibson's brilliant, Hall-of-Fame career truly stands out? We'll give it a try. How about Game 1 of the 1968 World Series between his St. Louis Cardinals and the Detroit Tigers? Squaring off against 31-game winner Denny McLain, Gibson struck out a record 17 batters with a walk over a five-hit, complete-game gem during the 4-0 St. Louis win. McLain told The New Yorker of Gibson's performance: "I was awed."

One of the all-time great individual tennis players, regardless of gender. Graf won 22 Grand Slam titles -- third all-time. However, it would not be a stretch to consider Graf's greatest accomplishment to be the record 377 weeks she spent as the world's No. 1-ranked tennis player (by the World Tennis Association). That's more than seven years and an example of just how dominant she was during the late 1980s and into the '90s. For good measure, Graf is also the only tennis player to record the "Golden Slam," in 1988, when she won the four Grand Slam singles titles and Olympic gold in the same calendar year.

Hockey fans can certainly argue that "The Great One" has had more than a few legacy-defining moments over his sensational career. He was the most dominant athlete in any North American sport -- and perhaps the world. We'll go with Dec. 30, 1981. That's when Gretzky scored five goals during Edmonton's 7-5 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. With that impressive offensive showing, Gretzky also reached the 50-goal mark in just 39 games -- breaking the NHL mark of 50 in games held by Maurice Richard and Mike Bossy.

We can round and roundabout just how successful Flutie was as a professional quarterback, especially in the NFL. Though he's among the legends of the CFL. In college, though, Flutie enjoyed a Hall-of-Fame career. He threw for 10,579 yards with 67 touchdowns, 54 interceptions and won the Heisman Trophy during the 1984 season. Of course, many analysts and fans believe Flutie won the prestigious award on one play. The famous "Hail Flutie." On Nov. 23, 1984, with time running out and Boston College down to Miami, Fla., Flutie scrambled at mid-field, then unleashed a 48-yard bomb (more than 60 yards from where he actually threw it) that somehow landed in the arms of receiver Gerard Phelan in the end zone for a 48-yard, touchdown and 47-45 victory.

If it had wheels, the often cantankerous, Foyt probably drove it. His 159 victories in the United States Automobile Club (USAC) are the most in the history of sanctioning body, while his 67 career wins within the umbrella of the American Championship Car Racing are also a record. For the sake of this list, Foyt's most impressive racing accomplishment is the fact he's the only driver to win the Indianapolis 500 (champion in 1961, 1964, 1967, and 1977), Daytona 500, 24 Hours of Daytona, and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Only the aforementioned Wayne Gretzky had a more celebrated professional hockey career than Howe. When "Mr. Hockey" retired for good in the early 1980s, his 801 goals, 1049 assists, and 1,850 points were all records (which Gretzky eventually broke). What's still special about the stamina and dedication Howe displayed for the game is that he remains the only player to play pro hockey in six different decades -- five in the NHL (1940s-1980s); plus one shift for the IHL's Detroit Vipers in 1987.

A two-sport hero, we'll start with Jackson's most memorable NFL moment. During his rookie season, Nov. 30, 1987, Jackson's Los Angeles Raiders visited boisterous linebacker Brian Bosworth and the Seattle Seahawks. Jackson rushed for 221 yards, including his darting 91-yard, second-quarter gallop down the sideline and into the Kingdome tunnel. He also ran over Bosworth for a 2-yard score in the third quarter. On the diamond, Bo's coming-out party might be the 1989 All-Star Game in Anaheim. Most notably in the bottom of the first inning, when he clubbed a homer to center field of nearly 450 feet en route to earning All-Star Game MVP honors.

Let's break it down. "The Captain" was a 14-time All-Star, five-time World Series champ. A five-time Gold Glover and the AL Rookie of the Year in 1996. There were obviously many special moments (3,000-plus hits) to Jeter's career, but the one that tends to stand out was his stellar grab of the poor throw from right fielder Shane Spencer off Terrence Long's seventh-inning double in Game 3 of the AL Division Series at Oakland in 2003. Jeter streaked from his shortstop position, gloved the errant throw midway up the first-base line,  then flipped the ball to catcher Jorge Posada , who tagged out Jason Giambi and kept the 1-0 lead for the Yankees, who would rally to win the series. 

There was never a doubt Magic was going to be a star in the NBA. He didn't waste any time, becoming an All-Star starter as a rookie -- when he averaged 18.0 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 7.3 assists. Yet, the most memorable moment of Magic's 1979-80 rookie season, and his career for that matter, came when the 6-foot-9 point guard started at center in place of the injured Kareem Abdul-Jabbar during Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals against Philadelphia. During one of the great individual playoff performances in any sport, Magic finished with 42 points, 15 rebounds, and seven assists during a 123-107 title-clinching victory.

Where do we start with arguably the greatest player in NBA history? The 63 points against Boston in the 1986 playoffs? His palms up, shoulder-shrug moment against Portland in the 1992 NBA Finals? Both were great moments during the remarkable career of the six-time NBA champ and five-time NBA MVP. But the last shot he took as a member of the Chicago Bulls remains one of the most memorable moments in league history. In Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals at Utah, Jordan eyed Bryon Russell, drove, then stepped back (after looking to have gently pushed off the Jazz defender) with 5.2 seconds left and sank the bucket for an 87-86 Chicago lead and the franchise's sixth world championship.

King won 39 grand slam tennis titles and is widely considered by analysts and pundits as the greatest women's player of all time, yet, to casual fans of the sport, she is probably best known for winning a match that didn't even count. A fierce advocate for gender equality in sports -- and beyond, a then-29-year-old King beat former No. 1 player in the world and chauvinistic, blow-hard Bobby Riggs (6-4, 6-3, 6-3) in the famed "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition match at the Astrodome on Sept. 20, 1973. 

Due to various injuries and health issues, "Super Mario" never played a full season during the 17 he actually took the ice. That said, he is one of the NHL's most legendary performers with 690 career goals, 1,033 assists, and 1,723 points. Yet, a career-defining moment for Lemieux came during the 1992-93 season, when the Pittsburgh great was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He missed two months to undergo aggressive radiation treatment but returned to total of 69 points and 91 goals in 60 regular-season games, plus 18 points over 11 playoff contests.

Leslie has a rightful place on the Mount Rushmore of women's basketball. The Naismith College Player of the Year at USC, an eight-time WNBA All-Star, three-time MVP, and four-time Olympic gold medalist for the United States. Yet, Leslie's most memorable hoops accomplishment came on July 30, 2002. That's when the 6-foot-5 star of the Los Angeles Sparks became the first woman to dunk in a WNBA game. 

The International Association of Athletics Federations named Lewis "World Athlete of the Century" for his track and field dominance during the 1980s and into the 1990s. The nine-time Olympic gold medalist really built his stellar legacy by breaking the 10-second mark in the 100 meters a remarkable 15 times. And, when competing in the 200, Lewis ran under 20 seconds on another 10 occasions. 

It took Manning nine seasons to win his first Super Bowl. By the time his NFL career ended with 17 seasons in the books, Manning made history in one rather impressive way. His first Super Bowl title came with Indianapolis Colts in 2006. His second came with the Denver Broncos to conclude the 2015 campaign. That dual accomplishment made Manning the first starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl with two different franchises.

Mays was named an All-Star 24 times. Simply remarkable. But not surprising because he won a batting title in 1954 and was a four-time home-run leader. Mays was arguably the best defensive outfielder in the history of the game, winning 12 Gold Glove Awards. This leads us to one of the greatest catches in major league history. Simply known as "The Catch." Mays, with back turned to the infield and nearing the center-field wall, made an over-shoulder catch on Vic Wertz's deep drive in Game 1 of the 1954 World Series against Cleveland.

Montana took the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl titles and will go down as one of the greatest clutch players in NFL history. Sure, there was "The Catch" with Dwight Clark during the 1981 NFC Championship Game. But, for our money, Montana's moment of true glory came at the end of Super Bowl XXIII. That's when he led the 49ers on an 11-play, 92-yard drive over 2 minutes, 6 minutes, capping it off a 10-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor with 34 seconds remaining in the game to ultimately result in a 20-16 win.

Two-time AFL MVP and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Namath had what would be considered a serviceable performance in Super Bowl III. Going 17-of-28 for 206 yards without a touchdown during the New York Jets' seemingly improbable 16-7 victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts. Of course, Namath's defining pro football moment came prior to that contest, when he guaranteed his underdog Jets would win. And, like that, an icon was born.

To plenty of tennis fans, Wimbledon is the most special of the Grand Slam events. The tradition, environment, and general respect for the event all make up the tournament's legacy. Another is Navratilova's record nine Wimbledon women's singles titles spanning three decades (1978-'90). During one stretch over that span, Navratilova won six consecutive titles at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Nicklaus' 18 major championship golf titles are the still most of any golfer. And, plenty of those victories stand out. Like his first, at the 1962 U.S. Open, when he topped  Arnold Palmer in an 18-hole playoff. However, golf fans of all ages still talk about "The Golden Bear's" most recent major triumph. At the 1986 Masters, the 46-year-old Nicklaus carded a 1-shot victory -- thanks to a final-round 65 -- to become the tournament's oldest champion.

Orr is arguably the greatest defenseman to ever play in the NHL. He's the only blue-liner to twice win the Art Trophy as the league's leader in points. Orr is also responsible for one of the most lasting images in all sports . In 1970, Orr went diving into the air -- he was actually tripped on the play -- after scoring the Stanley Cup-clinching goal in overtime against St. Louis in Game 4, to complete the series sweep for the Boston Bruins. 

In addition to his obvious talent on the track and as a long jumper, Owens was arguably one of the most important athletes in Olympic history. At the 1936 Summer Games in Berlin, Owens won gold in the 100 meters and 200 meters, 4 × 100-meter relays, and the long jump. As a black man, Owens' Olympic accomplishment was a slap in the face to Adolf Hitler's belief in Aryan supremacy. Owens' 1936 performance remains one of the most celebrated moments in U.S. Olympic history.

Folks in Chicago have no doubt that Payton is the greatest running back in the history of pro football. The crowning jewel on Payton's stellar, Hall-of-Fame career came on Oct. 7, 1984, against the New Orleans Saints, when he passed Jim Brown (12,312 yards) to become the NFL's all-time rushing leader. When Payton's career with the Chicago Bears ended in 1987, he amassed 16,726 rushing yards -- second on the NFL's career list.

Stock car drivers come and go, and many have put together some exemplary resumes. Yet, when it comes to the best, Richard Petty will likely always be "The King." He won 200 NASCAR Cup Series races and claimed 123 poles during his amazing career. One of the many standout accomplishments of Petty's racing tenure came during the 1967 season. That's when the seven-time Daytona 500 winner posted a record 27 victories, including a remarkable 10 in a row during one stretch.

Phelps is the most decorated Olympian in the history of the Games, with 28 total medals. Of that total, 23 are of the gold variety. Phelps's dominance over four consecutive Summer Olympics from 2004-2016 is truly remarkable, but when we break it down a little deeper, his success at the 2008 Games could be that defining moment of his stellar legacy. Phelps' eight gold medals in Beijing topped fellow American swimmer Mark Spitz's seemingly untouchable record of seven golds from the 1972 Games.

Rice is the greatest wide receiver in NFL history. He's the league's all-time leader with 1,549 receptions, 22,895 receiving yards and 197 TD catches. Yet, one of the most seemingly untouchable aspects of Rice's legacy is the 11 consecutive seasons of at least 1,000 receiving seasons (1986-'96). There are some analysts who think Tampa Bay's Mike Evans, with seven straight 1,000-yard campaigns, can catch Rice. We'll see.

Professional hockey has enjoyed its share of dominant performers. The first was "The Rocket." Richard played 18 seasons, all with the beloved Montreal Canadiens. He helped the Habs win eight Stanley Cups and was the first player to record 500 career goals. However, Richard's most impressive achievement might be that he was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in one season (1944-45), doing so in 50 games. The record has been broken, but in the mid-1940s, it was truly a remarkable accomplishment.

Lou Gehrig's major-league record 2,130 games-played streak lasted more than 55 years. Many baseball pundits and purists felt it would never be broken. Then Cal Ripken Jr. came around, and a new iron man was born. Ripken surpassed Gehrig's mark on Sept. 6, 1995, at Baltimore's Camden Yards, when he played in his 2,131st game. The 19-time All-Star and two-time AL MVP ran that mark to 2,632 games -- which also seems like it will take a true "iron man" to top. 

During these days of Russell Westbrook, triple-doubles don't seem as much of a big deal. Back in the early 1960s, well, that was another story. So, when the great Oscar Robertson became the first NBA player to average a triple-double for a single season with 30.8 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 11.4 assists in 1961-62, it was quite an accomplishment of dominance. For his 14-year NBA career, the legendary "Big O" averaged 25.7 points, 9.5 assists, and 7.5 boards.

Plain and simple, when Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier (the first since 1884 to openly do so), it was arguably the most important moment in sports history. On April 15, 1947, Robinson started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers in an official game. Of the 26,623 fans on hand at Ebbets Field that day, more than 14,000 were black. Robinson was a six-time All-Star, MVP in 1949, and World Series champion, but he will always be celebrated for this groundbreaking moment.

Baseball fans can argue for days when it comes to whether or not Rose should be in the Hall of Fame or not. Yet, Rose's actual baseball resume (17-time All-Star, three World Series titles) is undisputable when talking about the greatness he displayed while playing the game. The obvious crowning jewel of his career came Sept. 11, 1985, when Rose officially surpassed Ty Cobb as Major League Baseball's all-time hit leader with 4,192. Rose's 4,256 hits still remain a record.

After winning back-to-back collegiate national titles with San Francisco in 1955 and '56, Russell won 11 NBA world championships with the mighty Boston Celtics. However, the most important moment of Russell's career might have come in 1966, when he was named player-coach of the Celtics. Thus making him the first black head coach in NBA history. In his three seasons coaching and still starring for Boston, Russell won his final two NBA titles -- in 1968 and '69 -- before pulling the plug on his stellar, yet often, controversial, playing career.

There are icons in American culture, then there is the Babe. Of the 714 career home runs that Ruth hit during his storied career, none is more celebrated than his supposed "called shot" against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series. While the exact details have long been disputed, Ruth, who was being berated by Cubs' fans, apparently made some sort of hand gesture to center field, then shortly after clubbed a drive that traveled roughly 440 feet for a tiebreaking homer. Whether Ruth's intent was to predict his home run or not, it's made for one of the great stories in baseball lore.

It's still stunning to think that Sampras is the last American to win a men's singles title at Wimbledon (2000). A winner of 14 Grand Slam titles, Sampras is the only male tennis player in the Open Era to win the final Grand Slam event he played . For Sampras, that came at the 2002 U.S. Open, where he squared off with rival Andre Agassi, whom he faced in his first Grand Slam title. Sampras earned the four-set victory. After stepping away from the game, Sampras officially retired roughly a year later. 

It sounds strange to say, but there seemed more fanfare when Walter Payton topped Jim Brown as the NFL's all-time leading rusher in 1984 than when Smith surpassed the Chicago Bears great in 2002. It was Oct. 27, 2002, to be exact, when Smith scampered 11 yards against Seattle to break Payton's all-time rushing record (16,726 yards). Smith finished his 15-year, Hall-of-Fame career with 18,355 yards. A mark that still stands.

There can certainly be arguments made as to who is the greatest women's golfer of all time. Sorenstam, however, is tough to top. Her 90 international wins are the most ever and she holds the LPGA record with eight Player of Year awards. When it comes to defining moments in the career of the 10-time major winner, one only needs to revisit March 16, 2001. That's when she became the first -- and only -- female golfer to shoot 59 in competitive LPGA play -- during the second round of the Standard Register PING tournament in Phoenix. With sister Carlotta in her group, Annika made eight straight birdies to finish her first nine in 28. Her historic round also included a two-putt on her 17th hole. 

"Johnny U" won three NFL championships (1958, '59, and '68) and also with the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl V. While the Colts' 1958 title contest against the New York Giants has been dubbed "The Greatest Game Ever Played," Unitas' individual glory came during the 1959 campaign. That season, Unitas led the NFL with 193 completions, 2,899 passing yards, and 32 touchdowns to be named MVP by The Associated Press.

Williams' legendary status was far from just one moment. Come on, "The Splendid Splinter" was a 19-time All-Star, six-time AL batting champion, and twice won baseball's Triple Crown (1942, '47). Yet, it always seems to go back to 1941, when he batted .406 -- the last major leaguer to hit .400 or better for a single season. Williams entered the final day of the season at .3995, which would have been rounded up to .400 had he not played. Williams did take part in Boston's doubleheader against Philadelphia, going 6-for-8.